TopTenREVIEWS best Action movie director of all time is Steven Spielberg.

Top Action Directors

Click on an director for details and movie rankings

Directors are ranked according to overall movie critic score

1	Steven Spielberg	3.2657	31	1950s - 1 1960s - 3 1970s - 3 1980s - 7 1990s - 6 2000s - 9	1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 2. Saving Private Ryan (1998) 3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) See all Steven Spielberg movie rankings
2	Peter Jackson	3.2594	11	1970s - 1 1980s - 2 1990s - 3 2000s - 5	1. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) 2. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) 3. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) 4. King Kong (2005) See all Peter Jackson movie rankings
3	Sam Raimi	2.9999	15	1970s - 2 1980s - 3 1990s - 5 2000s - 5	1. Spider-Man 2 (2004) 2. Spider-Man (2002) 3. Army of Darkness (1993) 4. Spider-Man 3 (2007) See all Sam Raimi movie rankings
4	Richard Donner	2.9931	20	1960s - 2 1970s - 2 1980s - 7 1990s - 6 2000s - 3	1. Superman (1978) 2. Lethal Weapon (1987) 3. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) 4. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) See all Richard Donner movie rankings
5	John Carpenter	2.9771	23	1960s - 5 1970s - 3 1980s - 8 1990s - 5 2000s - 2	1. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) 2. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) 3. Escape from New York (1981) 4. They Live (1988) See all John Carpenter movie rankings
6	Ridley Scott	2.8665	22	1960s - 1 1970s - 2 1980s - 4 1990s - 4 2000s - 11	1. Gladiator (2000) 2. Thelma & Louise (1991) 3. Black Hawk Down (2001) 4. Duellists, The (1977) See all Ridley Scott movie rankings
7	William A. Wellman	2.8420	62	1920s - 13 1930s - 26 1940s - 12 1950s - 11	1. Public Enemy, The (1931) 2. Wings (1927) 3. Beau Geste (1939) 4. Blood Alley (1955) See all William A. Wellman movie rankings
8	John McTiernan	2.7844	12	1980s - 3 1990s - 6 2000s - 3	1. Die Hard (1988) 2. Predator (1987) 3. Hunt for Red October, The (1990) 4. Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) See all John McTiernan movie rankings
9	Martin Campbell	2.7816	11	1970s - 3 1980s - 1 1990s - 4 2000s - 3	1. Casino Royale (2006) 2. Mask of Zorro, The (1998) 3. GoldenEye (1995) 4. Vertical Limit (2000) See all Martin Campbell movie rankings
10	Michael Bay	2.7683	7	1990s - 3 2000s - 4	1. Rock, The (1996) 2. Bad Boys (1995) 3. Armageddon (1998) 4. Island, The (2005) See all Michael Bay movie rankings
11	James Cameron	2.7620	13	1970s - 1 1980s - 4 1990s - 4 2000s - 4	1. Titanic (1997) 2. Aliens (1986) 3. Terminator, The (1984) 4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) See all James Cameron movie rankings
12	John Woo	2.7604	34	1960s - 2 1970s - 9 1980s - 8 1990s - 6 2000s - 9	1. Face/Off (1997) 2. Mission: Impossible II (2000) 3. Broken Arrow (1996) 4. Windtalkers (2002) See all John Woo movie rankings
13	Tony Scott	2.7538	19	1970s - 1 1980s - 3 1990s - 7 2000s - 7	1. True Romance (1993) 2. Crimson Tide (1995) 3. Top Gun (1986) 4. Enemy of the State (1998) See all Tony Scott movie rankings
14	Wolfgang Petersen	2.7440	14	1960s - 2 1970s - 2 1980s - 3 1990s - 4 2000s - 3	1. In the Line of Fire (1993) 2. Air Force One (1997) 3. Perfect Storm, The (2000) 4. Troy (2004) See all Wolfgang Petersen movie rankings
15	Fritz Lang	2.7420	45	1910s - 5 1920s - 10 1930s - 7 1940s - 9 1950s - 13 1960s - 1	1. Metropolis (1927) See all Fritz Lang movie rankings
16	Howard Hawks	2.6621	40	1920s - 7 1930s - 14 1940s - 10 1950s - 5 1960s - 3 1970s - 1	1. Red River (1948) 2. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) 3. Air Force (1943) 4. Hatari! (1962) See all Howard Hawks movie rankings
17	George Lucas	2.6603	15	1960s - 8 1970s - 3 1990s - 1 2000s - 3	1. Star Wars (1977) 2. Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) 3. Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) 4. Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) See all George Lucas movie rankings
18	Michael Curtiz	2.6375	109	1910s - 4 1920s - 19 1930s - 42 1940s - 21 1950s - 19 1960s - 4	1. Adventures of Robin Hood, The (1938) 2. Captain Blood (1935) 3. Comancheros, The (1961) 4. Virginia City (1940) See all Michael Curtiz movie rankings
19	Antoine Fuqua	2.6166	11	1990s - 1 2000s - 10	1. King Arthur (2004) 2. Shooter (2007) 3. Replacement Killers, The (1998) 4. Tears of the Sun (2003) See all Antoine Fuqua movie rankings
20	Robert Rodriguez	2.6134	9	1990s - 3 2000s - 6	1. Sin City (2005) 2. Spy Kids (2001) 3. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002) 4. Desperado (1995) See all Robert Rodriguez movie rankings
21	Tim Burton	2.6041	19	1970s - 2 1980s - 5 1990s - 5 2000s - 7	1. Batman (1989) 2. Batman Returns (1992) 3. Mars Attacks! (1996) 4. Planet of the Apes (2001) See all Tim Burton movie rankings
22	Renny Harlin	2.6012	16	1980s - 3 1990s - 6 2000s - 7	1. Long Kiss Goodnight, The (1996) 2. Die Hard 2 (1990) 3. Cliffhanger (1993) 4. Deep Blue Sea (1999) See all Renny Harlin movie rankings
23	Jonathan Mostow	2.6002	8	1980s - 1 1990s - 2 2000s - 5	1. Breakdown (1997) 2. Breakdown (1997) 3. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) 4. U-571 (2000) See all Jonathan Mostow movie rankings
24	Guy Hamilton	2.5977	20	1950s - 8 1960s - 5 1970s - 4 1980s - 3	1. Goldfinger (1964) 2. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) 3. Battle of Britain (1969) 4. Live and Let Die (1973) See all Guy Hamilton movie rankings
25	Ivan Reitman	2.5925	16	1960s - 1 1970s - 3 1980s - 5 1990s - 4 2000s - 3	1. Ghost Busters (1984) 2. Ghostbusters II (1989) 3. Six Days Seven Nights (1998) 4. Kindergarten Cop (1990) See all Ivan Reitman movie rankings
26	John Milius	2.5820	9	1960s - 1 1970s - 3 1980s - 3 1990s - 1 2000s - 1	1. Conan the Barbarian (1982) 2. Wind and the Lion, The (1975) 3. Dillinger (1973) 4. Farewell to the King (1989) See all John Milius movie rankings
27	Brett Ratner	2.5788	10	1990s - 3 2000s - 7	1. Rush Hour (1998) 2. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) 3. Rush Hour 2 (2001) 4. After the Sunset (2004) See all Brett Ratner movie rankings
28	Terence Young	2.5728	37	1940s - 4 1950s - 11 1960s - 11 1970s - 7 1980s - 4	1. From Russia with Love (1963) 2. Dr. No (1962) 3. Thunderball (1965) 4. Klansman, The (1974) See all Terence Young movie rankings
29	Stephen Hopkins	2.5695	11	1980s - 2 1990s - 5 2000s - 4	1. Predator 2 (1990) 2. Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996) 3. Lost in Space (1998) 4. Blown Away (1994) See all Stephen Hopkins movie rankings
30	Phillip Noyce	2.5687	17	1970s - 3 1980s - 4 1990s - 5 2000s - 5	1. Clear and Present Danger (1994) 2. Patriot Games (1992) 3. Blind Fury (1989) 4. Saint, The (1997) See all Phillip Noyce movie rankings
31	Clint Eastwood	2.5673	29	1970s - 7 1980s - 7 1990s - 8 2000s - 7	1. Unforgiven (1992) 2. Outlaw Josey Wales, The (1976) 3. Flags of our Fathers (2006) 4. Space Cowboys (2000) See all Clint Eastwood movie rankings
32	George Miller	2.5428	21	1970s - 2 1980s - 8 1990s - 9 2000s - 2	1. Mad Max (1979) 2. Happy Feet (2006) 3. Mad Max 2 (1981) 4. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) See all George Miller movie rankings
33	Paul Verhoeven	2.5263	57	1930s - 6 1940s - 9 1950s - 19 1960s - 8 1970s - 5 1980s - 4 1990s - 3 2000s - 3	1. RoboCop (1987) 2. Total Recall (1990) 3. Starship Troopers (1997) 4. Flesh & Blood (1985) See all Paul Verhoeven movie rankings
34	Sam Peckinpah	2.5261	14	1960s - 4 1970s - 9 1980s - 1	1. Wild Bunch, The (1969) 2. Getaway, The (1972) 3. Cross of Iron (1977) 4. Convoy (1978) See all Sam Peckinpah movie rankings
35	Carol Reed	2.5089	30	1930s - 8 1940s - 10 1950s - 7 1960s - 3 1970s - 2	1. Third Man, The (1950) See all Carol Reed movie rankings
36	John G. Avildsen	2.4910	25	1960s - 1 1970s - 10 1980s - 10 1990s - 4	1. Rocky (1976) 2. Karate Kid, The (1984) 3. Karate Kid, Part II, The (1986) 4. Rocky V (1990) See all John G. Avildsen movie rankings
37	Robert Aldrich	2.4794	26	1950s - 9 1960s - 9 1970s - 7 1980s - 1	1. Dirty Dozen, The (1967) 2. Flight of the Phoenix, The (1965) 3. Emperor of the North Pole (1973) 4. Attack (1956) See all Robert Aldrich movie rankings
38	Oliver Stone	2.4780	22	1970s - 3 1980s - 6 1990s - 7 2000s - 6	1. Platoon (1986) 2. Natural Born Killers (1994) 3. Heaven & Earth (1993) 4. Alexander (2004) See all Oliver Stone movie rankings
39	Roland Emmerich	2.4639	14	1970s - 1 1980s - 3 1990s - 5 2000s - 5	1. Independence Day (1996) 2. Stargate (1994) 3. Patriot, The (2000) 4. Day After Tomorrow, The (2004) See all Roland Emmerich movie rankings
40	Ronny Yu	2.4637	23	1970s - 1 1980s - 8 1990s - 9 2000s - 5	1. Bai fa mo nu zhuan (1993) 2. Jet Li's Fearless (2006) 3. Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) 4. Formula 51 (2002) See all Ronny Yu movie rankings
41	Akira Kurosawa	2.4523	2	1950s - 1 2000s - 1	1. Seven Samurai, The (1954) See all Akira Kurosawa movie rankings
42	John Singleton	2.4522	10	1990s - 4 2000s - 6	1. Rosewood (1997) 2. Shaft (2000) 3. Four Brothers (2005) 4. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) See all John Singleton movie rankings
43	John Badham	2.4492	17	1970s - 3 1980s - 6 1990s - 8	1. Blue Thunder (1983) 2. Stakeout (1987) 3. Point of No Return (1993) 4. Another Stakeout (1993) See all John Badham movie rankings
44	Jan de Bont	2.4486	7	1990s - 4 2000s - 3	1. Speed (1994) 2. Twister (1996) 3. Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) 4. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) See all Jan de Bont movie rankings
45	Richard Lester	2.4377	20	1960s - 7 1970s - 8 1980s - 4 1990s - 1	1. Superman II (1980) 2. Three Musketeers, The (1973) 3. Superman III (1983) 4. Four Musketeers, The (1974) See all Richard Lester movie rankings
46	Andrew Davis	2.4342	13	1970s - 1 1980s - 3 1990s - 6 2000s - 3	1. Fugitive, The (1993) 2. Under Siege (1992) 3. Guardian, The (2006) 4. Chain Reaction (1996) See all Andrew Davis movie rankings
47	Gore Verbinski	2.4327	8	1990s - 2 2000s - 6	1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) 2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) 3. Mexican, The (2001) 4. Mousehunt (1997) See all Gore Verbinski movie rankings
48	Larry Wachowski	2.4324	5	1990s - 2 2000s - 3	1. Matrix, The (1999) 2. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) 3. Matrix Revolutions, The (2003) 4. Speed Racer (2008) See all Larry Wachowski movie rankings
49	Andy Wachowski	2.4324	5	1990s - 2 2000s - 3	1. Matrix, The (1999) 2. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) 3. Matrix Revolutions, The (2003) 4. Speed Racer (2008) See all Andy Wachowski movie rankings
50	Lewis Milestone	2.4321	39	1910s - 4 1920s - 8 1930s - 8 1940s - 11 1950s - 7 1960s - 1	1. Pork Chop Hill (1959) 2. Halls of Montezuma (1950) 3. Walk in the Sun, A (1945) 4. North Star, The (1943) See all Lewis Milestone movie rankings

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